Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2025, Part Eleven.
I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred subgenre being street punk. Speed rock, garage, skate punk, hardcore, pop punk, oi!, ska, grindcore, and even rockabilly fit the bill if done right. If I can catch a live show, it gives the release an edge. Here are a few releases from 2025 that I recommend you check out. These are in no particular order; however, I’m only reviewing releases that are in contention for the best release of the year. If I’m reviewing it, I liked it. When the New Year rolls around, I’ll put them in order and do a final article of the best of the best. Drop a comment at the bottom if there is a 2025 release you think I should check out; I most definitely will.
Pigpen “Mental Madness”
Released: June 27, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, cassette, Digital download
Label: Flatspot Records
From: Baltimore, Maryland
I'll admit that I was looking forward to this more to see what Matty Matheson (lead singer of Pigpen, chef, and actor on the FX T.V. show "The Bear") would look/sound like in a hardcore band. I wasn't actually expecting it to be THIS hardcore or this good, but it is, and I love it. From the description, the band is Matty's longtime friends from a scene that he grew up in (the Niagara hardcore scene). "Pig Pen," "Mental Mentality," and "Problem Mind" were my favorites, but you should check out the entire record and then go directly to your TV and watch the new season of "The Bear."” Maybe a tour (that comes through Detroit) in between seasons? They do mention a "Tour Exclusive" version of the vinyl. For record collectors, there are all sorts of variations of the vinyl (Seaweed Glitter, Cream with Black Splatter, Golden Nugget, Orange with Black Smoke, Red Swirl, Black Marble with Pink Splatter, Garnet, and more).
The Damn Givers “Mindless Violence”
Released: April 10, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Geneva, Switzerland
You may want to start with their 2023 debut, "This Is The End," with a great video for "No Booze No More." Both that one and their newest release, "Mindless Violence," are available on Bandcamp for a name-your-price with no minimum. Give what you can, but they are both excellent, and you will want to get them. First of all, I missed their 2023 release when I was doing reviews (it would have been one of the top releases of the year). But even now, I'm having a hard time picking the best songs for my current playlist (the entire release is solid street punk). Their new one is just as good, but it only has 4 songs, which makes it a little easier. It starts out with the title track, which went directly to my current playlist (at the very top). I've been to Switzerland, and it's amazing for the skiing, food, and beautiful scenery, but now I may need to go back for The Damn Givers. Fans of The Casualties, A Global Threat, The Unseen, Starving Wolves, The Virus, hardcore, or street punk will definitely want to check this out.
The Hostile Ones “Not Like You”
Released: June 1, 2025
Format: Vinyl 10", digital download
Label: Knockout Booking & Records
From: Helsinki, Finland
This is a 5-song 10", with two of the songs ("Only Talk" and "Are We Clear?") coming from a previously released single (which also came out in 2025). It looks like they started in 2021 and have a few more releases prior to this one, which would be well worth tracking down. Great artwork with a nod to Agnostic Front and S.H.A.R.P. right on the cover. Mostly short, fast, gruff hardcore/Oi! songs, and it grabbed me right away with the opening song "Only Talk" that kicks off with a scream of "Oi!" "Only Talk"” "Violent Mob Mentality," and "Are We Clear?" all made my current playlist. This also included some great sound bites from Quentin Tarantino movies in between the songs, which brought back memories (especially with Michael Madsen dying only a day before I'm reviewing this record).
Potato Skins “Battered But Still Standing EP”
Released: April 25, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Potato Skins Records
From: Brighton And Hove, UK
These guys win the prize this year for the best band and album name, with a play on skinhead/Oi! music and appetizers. My boots are shiny, and so is my head! "Shiny Boots & A Shiny Crown" is a great opening song (this is just a 3-song EP), and I was immediately singing right along with it. All three songs are excellent, and although I wish they were recorded a little louder, I'm OK with turning it up a little every time they come on. They bring a little more speed than the typical Oi! band, and along with the exceptional talent and melodies, it puts this release over the top for me. According to their Instagram, they are currently recording a full-length LP to be titled "From Soil to Steel"; I'll definitely be on the lookout for that one. Hopefully with some more songs (and maybe a bit of added volume) they will have a spot in my countdown of the top albums of the year (so far, they are that good).
The Adjusters “Pull The Pin”
Released: May 30, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: SLC, Utah
This starts out with a sound bite leading into an Oi! song, "Never Walk Alone." It's a sing-along anthem, and it grabbed me right away. The next song, "Pull The Pin," goes a bit more towards street punk/hardcore, and it just picks up the momentum from there with "Talk Shit, Get Hit" (my personal favorite) and "Fear Itself" (more of that street punk sound). At the very end we get the shortest song, "Terminal Nation,” which left me wanting more. The title song "Pull The Pin" is the inspiration for the cover, a hand grenade with the pin ready to be pulled. I'm guessing these guys don't mess around. This is another "Name Your Price" on Bandcamp with no minimum, so donate if you can, but either way, grab these songs and add them to your playlist (you have been warned).
Trashcat “Gimme Some”
Released: April 21, 2025
Format: 12" vinyl, Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Dublin, Ireland
This has the look of dirty punk rock-n-roll, and that's exactly what it is. Not always my thing, but this one is top-notch. This is their third record ("Too Much Ain't Enough" in 2008 and "Living In The City" in 2011 before this), so they have been around a while. "Gimme Some" and "Jezebel" were my picks, but I really need to go back and check out their older stuff as well. Fans of Motörhead, The Dwarves, Nashville Pussy, The Hookers, The Dirtys, Turbonegro, Against The Grain, U.S. Bastards, and bands like that will want to check this out.
Asocial “Kolsvart Framtid”
Released: May 3, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, Digital download
Label: F.O.A.D. Records
From: Hedemora, Sweden
Fast D-Beat hardcore from Sweden, who also brought us Mob 47, Anti-Cimex, Totalitar, Avskum, and DS-13. These guys know what they are doing; this is insane, and I couldn't stop playing it. They have been around for a long time (since the 1980s), but this is the first I have heard of them. "Agoni," "Krigets Verklighet," and "Kolsvart Framtid" (the title track) ended up on my current playlist, but this record never lets up. I assume they are singing/screaming in Swedish, and I didn't understand a word, but that didn't matter at all. Fans of Discharge, The Varukers, or any of the other Swedish hardcore bands that I mentioned will want to check this out.
Bad Form “State of Affairs”
Released: May 14, 2025
Format: CD, Digital download
Label: El Capitano Records
From: Wollongong, Australia
Anarcho/street punk from Australia, and this rips. The first two songs, "Freedom" and "Let Down," were both blazing fast street punk, and both ended up on my most current playlist (along with "Cult of Manosphere"). Punk rock has been solid all around the world lately, but Australia in particular has produced a lot of great bands. It looks like Bad Form released one song, "Pack Mentality," in 2024, but other than that, this is their debut release. I was glad to see that this ended up on CD and not just digital, but it doesn't look like they have any vinyl yet. I wasn't able to find much more about the band, other than the flyers and photos on their Instagram page, but they are definitely on my list of bands to watch.
Takers ‘N’ Users “The Ten Year Hangover”
Released: May 2, 2025
Format: 12" vinyl, Digital Download
Label: Randale Records
From: Belfast, UK
Working-class street punk/Oi! from Belfast. "16 Years," "Resistance," and "Fuck Me" were all great and went right to my current playlist. Sing-along Oi! songs that I couldn't get out of my head. I love Oi! music, and there is a lot coming out in 2025 (too many to review them all), but this one is a definite standout. Not every song is blazing fast, but the intensity is always there, and songs like "Resistance" add the speed and combine street punk and Oi! perfectly. The songwriting is top shelf, as is the production (so I can play this loud). If you have the patience, there is a hidden acoustic track after "Home Is Where The Heart Is," reminiscent of an old Irish drinking song. Highly recommended.
Oil! “Honour The Glory”
Released: January 22, 2025
Format: 10" vinyl, Digital download
Label: No Front Teeth Records
From: UK
The vinyl comes with a 3D sleeve and 3D glasses, and also a lyric sheet. They are self-described "sledgehammer Oi! hooligan pub rock," and these are some seriously great Oi! songs, destined to be anthems. I've read that they are meant to be a parody band, but they sound to me like a serious punk/Oi! band. I haven't delved into the lyrics yet, but the music is right on target. Particularly from this release "Skinhead (The Song)" is one of the better Oi! songs that I have heard. This one wasn't on Bandcamp, but I was able to download it from Apple Music after listening to it several times on YouTube. Their 2023 album with a similar name, "The Honor Of Glory" (which is on Bandcamp) was also fantastic and, honestly, even better than this one. If this is the first time you have heard them, definitely go back and check out the song "77 Clockwork Boot Justice". Fans (with a sense of humor) that are into top shelf Oi! music, Sham 69, The Last Resort, The Business, Cockney Rejects, Anti-Heros, Hard Skin, Haymaker, The Reckless Upstarts, The Templars, Pink Panzer will most definitely want to check this out.
